Fall Wreath and Fall Mantel Decorations

I made a wreath and decorated my mantel for Fall this past weekend. I am so excited that I get to cross off two more things from my Fall Bucket list. I love decorating for the holidays! I started by making a big, fluffy wreath from mesh ribbon and a metal wreath frame. I chose a seasonal ribbon with maroon, orange, gold, and yellow colors. Then I weaved in a brown colored mesh ribbon on top of it. This was my first attempt at making one of these mesh wreaths and I was surprised at how easily and quickly I made the wreath. I purchased some pumpkin and Autumn themed picks and stuck them through the ribbon.  I was so pleased with the results that I decided to make an additional one for my mom’s birthday yesterday.

We got “booed” by our neighbors this week and they had placed a wooden Halloween sign in our bucket of goodies.  I added it to my new project and our Fall wreath became a Halloween wreath. When Halloween is over I can just remove the sign from the wreath hanger.

For my mantel, I added a garland of Fall leaves, pumpkin and seasonal picks, a couple of scarecrows, and my four ceramic pumpkins. I also put a bunch of leaves and some picks in a brown and black wooden box. I still would like to add some more height and maybe a sign or other centerpiece for the background.

Organized Kitchen Drawers

An organized kitchen drawer makes life so much easier! About 7 months ago we moved into our custom-built home. We were fortunate enough to design exactly how we wanted everything. One thing I requested was a lot of kitchen drawers. Deep drawers. This has made all the difference! I am no longer sticking my head into cabinets and reaching to the very back for a missing appliance or lost dish.

There are three favorite drawers in my kitchen that get used daily so I made sure to organize them right away. The top drawer holds my sandwich cutters, a few favorite cookie cutters, baking cups, and other fun tools for making lunches. It is so much easier to grab what I need in the morning or night before when prepping lunches. The next drawer is home to most of the kid’s lunch containers, thermoses, and bento boxes. The third drawer is the "kid’s drawer." This drawer is devoted to my kids and their abundance of plates, bowls, and cups. I used colored baskets to divide the dishes up so you can grab what you need quickly. If you do not have a kid’s drawer or cabinet yet then make one for them...now! This is a must for encouraging children to be more independent and self-sufficient. My kids get up in the morning, grab a bowl, and pour their cereal all on their own. My husband, children, and I know where everything goes so it makes putting away dishes or setting the table a breeze, too.

Drawer for Bento and Lunch Tools

Drawer for Lunch Containers

Kid's Drawer

My challenge to you (if you haven't already done so) is to organize your kitchen drawers and make them  work for you! Remember to not let yourself get overwhelmed. Organize one drawer at a time, and go from there!